Maine schools vie in big cook-off

[SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The aroma in the air this weekend in the South Portland area will be unusually good.

Southern Maine Community College is hosting two competitions for young chefs on Saturday and Sunday, helping the next generation of culinary artists make their name.

On Saturday, the college will host Maine's 2nd annual ProStart Culinary Competition. And on Sunday, the school will host for the first time a regional event in the Young Chefs' Competition.

On Saturday, four-student teams from six of the state's technical centers each have to create a menu, cook three-course meals and serve them to judges. They'll be judged in the kitchen and on their final product.

On Sunday, 10 area chefs who will be under the age of 27 as of September will compete.